Bremer/Callington won their third game of the season on Saturday to sit just a game outside the top-four after eight rounds in the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA). The Cobras won the toss and invited their visitors Hahndorf to bat first. The Magpies were in early trouble at 4/47 before Andrew Baker (40) and Lachlan Huxtable (50) added 67 runs for the fifth wicket. Hayden Knappstein (35) then joined Huxtable in a 55-run stand for the sixth wicket as the Magpies recovered to post a competitive total of 189. Paul Allegretto also made 32 opening the batting for Hahndorf. Cobras vice-captain Nathan Fitzgerald continued his good recent form to take 4/20 (8). Graydon Brand also picked up four wickets as he finished with 4/31 (8). Bremer/Callington got off to a good start with Dhanushka Abeynayake (35) and Johnny Fitzgerald (17) putting on an opening stand worth 49 runs. Shannon Howie (39), Nathan Fitzgerald (35) and Alex Durbidge (24) got the Cobras within sight of victory as things got very tense. Bradley Clements (9) and Daniel Lowe (1 not out) managed to hang on and get their side over the line off the last ball of the match. 

Nairne consolidated their place in the top-four with a comfortable 80-run win against Woodside. The Razorbacks batted first and had plenty of handy contributors including Mitch Hein (35), Shane Kenney (32) and Robert Crook (32) as they were bowled out for 169 in the 45th over. Five Woodside bowlers took wickets with Nick Johns (2/29), Shane Druwitt (2/34), Dale Robinson (2/36), and Harrison Reid (2/37) leading the way. The Warriors were in all sorts of trouble at the start of their run chase as they slumped to 3/12, with Nairne opening bowler Brodie Clarke taking all three wickets on the way to the excellent figures of 4/16 (6.1). Chris Baschiera (19) and Noah Bell (15) battled hard for Woodside but they were eventually bowled out for 89 in the 30th over. Nick Williams (3/25) and Jack May (2/9) were the other multiple wicket takers for the Razorbacks.

Strathalbyn also consolidated their spot near the top of the ladder with a professional six-wicket win in a match reduced to 37-overs per side at Macclesfield. The Redbacks batted first and struggled to get any real momentum going during their innings. ‘Maccy’ skipper David Caddy played a lone hand for his side, top scoring with 60 (6 x 4’s, 1 x 6). No other Redbacks batsman reached 15 with their total of 150 boosted by a whopping 34 extras gifted by the Stallions. Five Strathalbyn bowlers took wickets including Jake Beerenfels (3/25), Mark Abbott (2/14), Brayden Gaiter (2/23) and River Berden (2/25). ‘Strath’ started their innings well with Jamarley Daley (35) and Luke Cousins adding 57 runs for the first wicket. Luke Cousins continued on to top score with 61 not out from 94 balls (6 x 4’s) as the Stallions brought up the winning runs with 16 balls to spare. 

The game between Lobethal and Langhorne Creek at Lobethal Oval was washed out. 

Ladder - after round 8

Langhorne Creek 28, Strathalbyn 20, Nairne 20, Lobethal 18, Macclesfield 14, Bremer/Callington 14, Woodside 12, Hahndorf 2. 

Round 9 fixtures - home team named first

Hahndorf v Macclesfield

Langhorne Creek v Nairne

Strathalbyn v Lobethal

Woodside v Bremer/Callington